The sheriff: Sorrowful day for a friend

By the Times staff
Published August 16, 2007

TAMPA -- From the moment he was awakened by a phone call early Wednesday, Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee's day was filled with sorrow.

First, he got the call that the SWAT team was in the middle of a standoff with a suspect in the killing of longtime deputy Sgt. Ronald Harrison.

Hours later, Gee had to deliver a eulogy at the funeral of a close friend, developer Charles "Wes" Kearney.

He later spoke about Harrison at a news conference on the shooting, choking back tears several times.

"He was a good guy, a good officer, with a lot of years and ... I can talk about it better at a different time," Gee said.

Gee had known Sgt. Harrison his entire career, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

"It has been a horrendous day for him," she said.

[Last modified August 16, 2007, 00:49:25]